How Do You Change the Rear Brakes on a 1993 Cavalier?

Changing the rear brakes on a 1993 model Chevy Cavalier can be a painstaking process. The brake drums for the rear wheels use brake shoes that are assembled with a number of pins and springs. When disassembling the brake shoes, take note of where each spring, pin and lever is connected, and make sure you connect them in the same place during assembly.

Instructions

Accessing the Brake Shoes

1

Raise the rear end of the car with a floor jack; it's a good idea to loosen the wheel lug nuts before raising it, and supporting it on jack stands will provide better support.

2

Remove the rear wheels from the car using the lug wrench.

3

Pull the brake drum off of the rear brake assembly. Do not remove the brake drum for the other wheel until you finish working on the first brake assembly.

Removing the Brake Shoes

4

Unfasten the primary and secondary return springs from the anchor pin using a brake spring remover tool (tool J-8049 is recommended) while leaving them installed in the springs. Use pliers to compress, twist and remove the hold-down springs and pins.

5

Lift up on the actuator lever and remove the actuator link, then remove the actuator lever with its return spring and bearing sleeve. Remove the parking brake strut and spring.

6

Disconnect the parking brake cable from the backing plate, then spread the brake shoes apart at the top--they are held together by the lower spring--and remove them from the backing plate.

7

Detach the adjusting screw and its spring from the brake shoes and remove the retaining ring, pin and parking brake lever from the rad brake shoe--this may require pliers.

Installing the Brake Shoes

8

Lubricate the surfaces on the backing plate where the shoes, anchor pin and parking brake lever touch using a high-temperature grease.

9

Connect the parking brake lever to the replacement rear brake shoe using its pin and retaining ring. Install the adjuster screw assembly and spring onto the brake shoes.

10

Attach the parking bake cable to the brake shoes and then position them on the backing plate. Spread the shoes apart and connect the parking brake strut and its spring, making sure the end without the spring engages the rear shoe and the end with the spring engages the front shoe.

11

Install the bearing sleeve, actuator lever and lever return spring to the rear brake shoe and then install the hold-down pins and springs with pliers. Fasten the actuator link to the anchor pin and then fasten the link to the lever as you hold the lever up.

12

Attach and secure the return springs to the shoes using pliers.

13

Turn the star wheel with a flat screwdriver to adjust the brake shoes; they need to be .03 inches less than the diameter of the brake drums.

14

Reconnect the brake drum to the assembly, using the alignment marks to ensure you install it in the correct position.

15

Reconnect the wheels and lower the car after changing the brakes on both sides.